30-Day No Spend Challenge and No Spend Ideas

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June 20, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media 1 Comment

Save money with this month long No Spend Challenge. Download your no spend tracker and get an bonus checklist of No-Spend Weekend Ideas printable. Who is ready to turn their spending habits into saving habits with me?

No Spend Challenge Tracker and Ideas

Did 2020 have anyone reevaluating their spending habits? I am raising my hand.

In 2020, March whipped in so quickly and stayed so long. Then March turned to April, April to May and here we are in June. We actually moved in the middle of the 2020 epidemic and our spending was unable to freeze trying to get a new home in order. We gave ourselves three months with the promise, once June came, we were going on the No Spend Challenge.

So here we are! Who is ready to tackle this 30-day No Spend Challenge with me? In addition to the 30 Day Challenge Checklist, I also have list of no spend challenge ideas for the weekend. Distractions to keep you from pulling out your wallet.

No Spend Ideas

Does not spending money sound, well, challenge? It does for me. Honestly, it brings me anxiety. The second the word “no-spend” is spoken, I begin the “what if” pattern in my head. What if I need xyz; what if we need xyz; what if I can’t do this? As the primary spender for them home, I decided to take this 30 days at a time. As a family of seven, we decided this challenge did not include groceries, essentials, medical purchases or emergency needs. The challenge only included impulse buys, non-essentials, entertainment, and restaurants.

Weekend No Spend Challenge Ideas

A few free activities to fill your weekend (and week).

Visit the Park
Make a Goodwill Run (Take our 30-day Declutter Challenge during this time)
Host a Potluck Dinner
Have a Netflix Movie Night
Volunteer
Visit the Library
Complete a Puzzle
Have a Bonfire Night
Have a Game Night (See our Family Game Night Ideas)
Go Sightseeing In Your Home Town
Read a Book
Batch Cook Frozen Meals
Clean the Car
Go Hiking
Have a Scavenger Hunt (See our long list of Scavenger Hunt Ideas)
Make Paper Kites or Paper Airplanes
Learn a New Skill
Draw or Paint
Camp in your Backyard (See our Camping Hacks and Tips)
Have a Picnic
Make Pizza
Visit a Free Museum (see our Museum Scavenger Hunt in our Stay-cation Spring Break Ideas)

When this is over, have you set new spending habits? Consider having a spend month (or spend week) with discretionary spend. After this month or week, repeat the process and watch the ability to control impulse buys become a natural habit. I bet you reach some savings goal like filling your savings account, paying down payments on student loans, and/or paying of credit and debit cards.

You can pick up a Debt Payment Tracker in our Busy Mom Binder while you are saving money!

SHOP THE BUSY MOM BINDER

30-Day No Spend Challenge Guide PDF

Download Your Free No Spend Printable

Get all of our free printables including our No Spend Challenge Template and Calendar. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

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I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Upload and order your printable on Staples.com.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final No-Spend Challenge Template fully checked off! Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

It’s a good time to set long term financial goals. Begin the 52 Week Savings Challenge. This 30 day no-spend challenge would give you a jump start. Pin to Pinterest.

This Monthly Declutter Challenge is perfect to pair with your no-spend challenge. Add more to the wallet and less to the home! Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Bake and Take Recipes | Meal Trains and Meal Exchanges

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June 11, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, Facebook, Hacks, Home Improvement, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Recipe, Social Media Leave a Comment

Tired of preparing dinner each night? Bake and take recipes might be your busy mom solution! Details on how to get a weeks worth of throw in the oven meals for your family. What is a meal train, dinner ideas for neighbors, and hosting a girls night out party with a meal exchange ideas.

Bake and Take Recipes

Bake and take can mean one of many things. It can be an opportunity where people get together for a meal exchange. A bake can take can be an easy recipe for a new baby meal train. It can be a meal recipe you for bringing dinner to neighbors who have medical issue or are experiencing tough times.

Whatever the reason, we have the best bake and take recipes for parties, meal trains, neighbors and friends.

Bake and Take Party

Fist let’s address a Bake and Take Party. This is most appropriate when you are not in quarantine. Similar to a cookie exchange, only a meal exchange. Invite 5 to 7 people (too many people can be quite challenging.)

For a meal exchange party, each person brings the same dish x number of times. For example, for five people, each person brings the same meal in five different disposable foil pans. Exchange meals among friends and at the end of the night, go home with five different dinners for your family. This meal exchange can be done by prepping or baking the dish ahead.

Another option for a take and bake party is you bring your ingredients. Together, friends can sip wine and prep five dishes. Each person goes home with a meal prepared that they can make later that week for their family.

Bonus if your final bake and take meals can be frozen for easy prep on a busy night. For for a take and bake recipe exchange party, you will need Freezer Bags and/or Aluminum Disposable Pans.

What is a Meal Train

I meal train is an effective way to organize meal giving to a person or family for births, surgeries, illnesses and during tough times. A friend group or family community comes together to coordinating dropping off a home-made meal for a family who could use help.

If cooking is not an option, alternatively, you could coordinating restaurant delivery (like pizza or a local restaurant) or send a restaurant gift card for the person/family to use at their own time and need.

Mealtrain.com is a great resource for creating a group meal sign up, organizing meal giving, and scheduling meals to a calendar.

Bringing Dinner to Neighbors

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the importance of those in close proximity like immediate family and neighbors. Bake and take recipes are great for neighbors. You can rotate the responsibility of meals, each person assigned a different night of the week. You can also, bless an elderly, sickly or a neighbor in trouble with the gift of a home cooked meal.

Consider hosting a bake and take party for the neighborhood or create a meal train for a neighbor who could a little extra help.

Social Distance Meals

Let’s take bake and take a step further. During quarantine and times of distancing, social distance meals are an option. Again, choose 5 to 7 people and each person is assigned a day.

The social distancing parties can work one of two ways. Let’s use our party of five people again.

Option 1

Each person is assigned a day. On your assigned day, that person prepares (and bakes) five of the same dinners. They drive to five separate houses leaving the dinner on the step or front porch. This gives each party goer five nights of meals, only preparing dinner one night.

Option 2

Similar to a meal train, each person signs up for one day to bless a friend/neighbor in need with a meal. That person is assigned the job of putting a meal on the porch for the calendar date they have scheduled.

Bake and Take Recipe Ideas

For bake and take recipes, it is very important to know allergy and diet restrictions. We looked for easy recipes, casserole dishes, or throw in the oven meals that were free from many common allergies. Before hosting a bake and take party or meal train, get each persons dietary restrictions and any foods for which they may have an allergy.

This easy Green Bean Tater Tot Casserole is a dump recipe you can quickly prepare and bring to a neighbor or friend. | Neighbor Food Blog

Everything bakes together in one dish with this Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe. | Happy Go Lucky Blog

Want a good-for-you dinner option for your neighbors? This Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole is quick and easy, a comfort dish that is like a big gentle hug. | Pinch of Yum

This savory Slow Cooker Beef on Rice with has a flavorful gravy. Serve it over a warm bed of rice. If you are exchanging with a large group of people at once, bring Uncle Ben’s 90 second rice. So easy and quick. | Le Creme de la Crumb

This nutritious minestrone soup is protein packed with red kidney beans and great northern beans. Exchange with frozen dinner rolls. | Little Spice Jar

With just 5 ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep, this Dump-and-Bake Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is an easy dinner that cooks in one dish! Cook ahead and reheat. Consider serving with a mixed salad bag. | The Seasoned Mom

Another easy prep. Try a dump and bake easy Chicken Alfredo Pasta Casserole. | Lil Luna

This kid-friendly comfort food casserole is great for exchanges. Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional Irish dish made with a saucy ground beef, peas, and carrots and topped with a mashed potato crust. Easy and tasty. | Savory Nothings

A family favorite casserole for us. This creamy tuna noodle casserole is loved by all ages – kids and adults. Goes perfect with a steam fresh veggie. | Mom Dot

Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a quick and healthy crock pot recipe that’s perfect for busy nights. Add all the ingredients in the crock pot then push on! Serve with frozen dinner rolls. | Iowa Girl Eats

This super simple chicken pot pie recipe is made with buttermilk biscuits! | I Heart Recipes

Looking for more ideas? Take a look at our printable meal plans including meatless dinners, chicken dinners, pasta dinners, Mexican dinners, Italian dinners and even salad dinner ideas.

Freezer meals are so friendly when it comes to meal exchanges. Take a look at these make-ahead Freezer Crockpot and Dump Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.

Enjoy these Busy Mom Hacks and Tips including an mom tip for making multiple meals in one night! Pin to Pinterest.

DIY Party Beverage Tub with Cricut SVG Files

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June 8, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Summer Leave a Comment

Make your own party beverage tub with these free SVG files for Cricut Design Space. This outdoor galvanized ice bucket has two optional messages “Chillin” or “Enjoy.” Also create your own vinyl personalized beverage tub and ice bucket with this step-by-step Cricut tutorial.

DIY Party Beverage Tub

In no time you can have a perfect Outdoor Beverage Tub. Using our free SVG files, add the summertime phrase “chillin” or “enjoy” to create a summertime drink bucket to keep your beverages cool.

Fill your DIY beverage tub with your favorite ice cold drinks, chill and enjoy (all the pun!)

Galvanized Beverage Tub

For this DIY Cricut Project, we used a Galvanized Beverage Tub similar to this one at Michaels or this one on Amazon. The reason we chose galvanized for our backyard beverage tub, was because it is known to have a protective zinc coating to prevent rusting, so they’re suitable for indoor and outdoor use, as well as, water exposure.

Another popular backyard beverage cooler is the Igloo Party Bucket Cooler. This double walled cooler has a foam insulated body to keep drinks cold but it will prevent condensation or “sweat” like unlined tubs. Whichever cooler you choose for your personalized beverage holder (ice bucket), make sure it has an area with a smooth surface to apply your Cricut vinyl summertime phrases – chillin or enjoy.

DIY Beverage Bucket

Materials

Enjoy and Chillin SVG File (see below or get it here)
Cricut Maker cutting machine with Fine Point Blade
Cricut Outdoor Permanent Glossy Vinyl in white
Standard grip mat
Cricut Transfer Tape*
Galvanized Beverage Bucket
Scissors
Cricut Weeder Tool

*If you do want to use transfer tape for this project, consider using Duck Brand Peel Clear Laminate as an alternative to Cricut transfer tape. Some people prefer this brand more.

Directions

Gather your supplies and in a few simple minutes, you will have your personalized beverage tub. This outdoor drink tub is perfect for a gathering or just for storing on your patio or deck for quick family get togethers.

Cricut Design Space

Open Cricut Design Space.

Click on the “+” sign to start a new project, opening up a blank canvas.

Click on the “Upload” button from the toolbar and browse your downloaded files to insert the summertime SVG files – chillin or enjoy.

The cut image will appear on the canvas.

With the image selected, click on the “Attach” button to secure all parts of the image together for cutting.

Maintain the size or adjust to fit your ice bucket. To adjust the size, highlight the image and click on the size box in the top toolbar.

Change the measurement to suit your galvanized beverage tub size accordingly.

How to Print SVG Files

Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.

Choose the Outdoor Vinyl, Permanent from the list of options in the drop down menu.

Place the Permanent Vinyl on the standard grip mat.

Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the vinyl.

Making the Beverage Bucket

Cut around the image(s) with a pair of scissors.

Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images and discard.

Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the image.

Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape on top of the cut image. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.

Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape. Trim transfer tape if needed.

Carefully consider the placement before applying as the permanent vinyl can’t be removed if placed incorrectly. Position the image with the transfer tape on to the beverage tub and press in place.

Press the image down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the tub.

Slowly remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the tub. Repeat with the other image on the opposite side of the tub if desired.

Fill the galvanized beverage bucket with your favorite drinks, chill and enjoy (all the pun!)

Cricut Free SVG Files

Get all of our free printables including the free SVG cut files. Cut files include both phrases “chillin” and “enjoy” for you to add to your party tub. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Cricut DIY Beverage Tub. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Also save these Free Cricut Craft Tutorials throughout the entire year. Pin to Pinterest.

Save these Cricut Tutorials, Projects and Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Running Out of Dinner Ideas? Meal Planning Ideas for Families

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June 7, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Recipe, Social Media 1 Comment

Running out of dinner ideas? Take a look at these Meal Planning Ideas for Families. Over sixty dinner ideas so you can easily go two months (or longer) never repeating the same entree. Personalize and add your own family recipes to the Meal Planning Template for a quick and easy reference.

Meal Planning Ideas

For busy moms, meal planning is a challenge. For me, I lack ideas. We tend to repeat the same dinner ideas over and over creating a boring rut.

This Meal Planning printable provides some unique recipe ideas. For example, when was the last time you made an Italian Calzone? We have an easy recipe from Pillsbury. Or what exactly is chicken biryani? We have another easy Indian recipe to add to your dinner rotation.

By following these meal planning ideas, you hold the ability to have a different dinner recipe, every night, for over two months. Add your own ideas to the list and never repeat a recipe for up to three months!

Meal Planning Ideas for Families

Our meal planning ideas are categorized by Meatless, Chicken, Pasta, Mexican, Italian and Salads. Take a look below at some examples and ideas.

Meatless Meal Ideas

Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Mushroom Risotto
Healthy Three Bean Chili
The Cheesecake Factory Korean Fried Cauliflower (Seen in our Easy Asian Recipes too)

Plenty more options in our Meatless Monday Dinner Ideas.

Chicken Meal Ideas

Visit our Low-Carb Chicken Recipes.

Pasta Dinner Ideas

Mexican Dinner Ideas

Get inspiration from our Cinco De Mayo Recipes and Taco Tuesday Recipes.

Italian Dinner Ideas

Salad Dinner Ideas

Visit our 25 Summer Salads you can make today!

Meal Planning Tips

These meal planning ideas will save money, keep your pantry organized and provide a variety of meals.

Menu planning tips for Families:

Print. Download and print Frugal Coupon Living’s menu planning template PDF.
Sales. Plan your meals around grocery items that are on sale. If beans are at a low price this week, stock up on cans and make a taco soup.
Save. Save money by eating one Meatless meal a week. We enjoy these Meatless Monday Dinners.
Stockpile. Plan dinner based on the stockpile in your pantry, fridge or freezer.
Leftovers. Save leftovers and declare one night a week a leftover night to empty the fridge.

Freeze. Our favorite meal prep idea and tip comes from our Busy Mom Hacks. Chances are if you are here Family Menu Planning, you consider yourself a busy mom.

This Busy Mom Life Hack came to me from a friend and it is great for creating a quick and easy stockpile of freezer meals. I personally have used it and have found it very helpful. One night a week, double or triple a recipe. Take that extra recipe and freeze it. On an incredibly busy night, pull that frozen meal out of the freezer. Bake it as a quick and easy family dinner recipe. If you do this each week, your freezer meals will grow!

Meal Ideas Printable

One last menu planning tip is saving our Meal Planning Ideas for Families. Download this menu planning template and personalize to your family. Keep your family from getting bored of the “same ‘ole dinner.” Try checking off every recipe before beginning again.

Download Your Free Printable

Get all of Frugal Coupon Living’s free printables including our Meal Planning Template. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Print from the Staples Printing Services Online. Ship or pickup at the store.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final meal planner and show us the recipes you made! Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

We have made a Pinterest recipe board of all of these Meal Planning Ideas for Families.

Need to hop on a meal train? Planning meals for others can be hard. Take a look at these Bake and Take Recipes as well as Meal Train Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Want more tips? Visit our Busy Mom Life Hacks. Pin to Pinterest.

You will love this Busy Mom Printable Binder. As quoted from one user “Oh my goodness! This makes my mama heart so happy. After every page I thought ‘this is perfect, I wish it had xyz’… and then it showed up! ” We including a grocery shopping list, weekly meal planner and more! Pin to Pinterest.

FREE BBQ Seasoning Father’s Day SVG File for Cricut

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May 29, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Father's Day, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Recipe, Social Media 9 Comments

It’s a good year when you find Father’s Day Gifts Ideas from the Kids that are actually used by dad. This June, download this FREE BBQ Seasoning Father’s Day SVG File. Upload these free Cricut files to Design Space, print to vinyl, make your mason jar craft and fill with your favorite BBQ Seasoning Recipes. Gift, use and enjoy!

DIY Father’s Day SVG Gift Idea

Buckle up because this DIY Father’s Day Idea supplies you with a lot of content including Barbecue seasoning recipes ideas, a free Father’s Day SVG file for Cricut Design Space, and directions on how to create a homemade father’s day gift using supplies from home!

Father’s Day SVG File for Cricut

To begin this process, you will need a few materials including our BBQ Father’s Day free SVG file.

Download Free Father’s Day SVG File

Pick up this file by signing up for our email list. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download ALL of our free printables including Father’s Day Gifts.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

While you are in our free printables files, don’t forget to also download our free SVG Files for this Rock Photo Frame for Dad this Father’s Day!

Once you have your Father’s Day SVG File downloaded, you can begin this process of uploading a SVG file to Cricut Design Space.

You also might want to pair this Father’s Day Gift idea for the barbecue lover with BBQ Cupcakes.

DIY Father’s Day Gift Materials

Father’s Day SVG File (downloaded from Frugal Coupon Living’s Free Printables)
Cricut Maker (or Cricut Joy) with Fine Point Blade
Standard grip mat
Cricut Premium Vinyl, Removable or Permanent in color of your choice

We used Light Gray Cricut Premium Vinyl in the Vibrant Value Pack.

How to Upload a SVG Pattern to Cricut Design Space

First, gather your supplies.

Upload Father’s Day “Grill Master” SVG File into Design Space.

Once uploaded, click Ungroup.

Click and drag over each of the images separately. With the image highlighted, click on the “Weld” button”. You will repeat this for all Father’s Day seasoning phrases and clip art images.

Adjust image sizes to fit your mason jars accordingly. Measure the height and wide of your jar. For example, the largest “Grill Master” design image was sized to 3.5” high on the Design Space canvas to fit an 8 oz mason jar.

Color sync the images if needed to match the vinyl color. We used Light Gray from Vibrant Value Pack.

Once everything is prepared, begin the the Circut cutting process.

Cutting Vinyl on Cricut

You will want to begin the process of cutting your final product.

First, select “Make It” in Cricut Design Space.

Next, set material type to Premium Vinyl.

Begin to follow prompts for loading the mat into the Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy and cutting the Premium Vinyl. When prompted, unload the mat from the cutting machine.

Finally, remove the Premium Vinyl from the mat.

Mason Jar Father’s Day Gift Idea

When you have your final cut, you will want to begin the process of making your DIY Mason Jar Father’s Day gifts to hold BBQ seasoning mix.

BBQ Seasoning Mason Jar Father’s Day Gift Materials

Mason Jars with lids (we used 8 oz)
BBQ Seasoning Mixes of your choice (see below for ideas)
Twine or ribbon (optional)
Weeder tool
Cricut Transfer Tape*
Cricut scraping tool
Scissors

For Circut tools, this Basic Tool Set will have what you need and more! You can also pick up your transfer tape, blade, mat, vinyl and more at the Cricut Store.

*Consider using Duck Brand Peel Clear Laminate as an alternative to Cricut transfer tape. Some people prefer this brand more.

Assembling BBQ Seasoning Mason Jars

You can pre-wash jars with soap and hot water and let them dry completely before using. Do not begin the next step until your jars are completely dry.

Michael’s has 8 oz Mason Jars for $1 each. Free shipping when you spend $50.

First, cut around each image with a pair of scissors.

Using the weeding tool, peel away your excess vinyl around the cut images and discard.

Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the image.

Peel away the backing of transfer tape and place the transfer tape on top of the cut image. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.

Next, peel away the vinyl backing. Leave just the image adhered to the transfer tape.

In a straight position, place the phrase and clip art with the transfer tape on to a smooth area of the mason jar and press into place.

Press your vinyl image down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the mason jar.

Finally, carefully remove the transfer tape leaving only the vinyl image and phrases on the glass mason jar.

Repeat this process for the the rest of your mason jars and free cut files.

To finish, fill the mason jars with your favorite BBQ seasoning mixes and tie a piece of ribbon or twine around the jar lid.

We used Natural Jute Twine from Michael’s. Free shipping when you spend $50.

BBQ Seasoning Recipe Ideas

If you are looking for a good BBQ seasoning recipe, we found some barbecue spice rub ideas to create the best summer recipes.

From brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, Cheyenne pepper, smoked paprika and chili powder. These grill master’s know their flavor.

Homemade Blackening Seasoning from Chili Pepper Madness
BBQ Spice Rub Recipe from Dinner at the Zoo
DIY Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Seasoning from Take Two Tapas
Copycat Trader Joe’s Smokey Coffee BBQ Spice Rub from Balanced Bites (as seen in our Trader Joe Recipes)
Homemade BBQ Seasoning from My Forking Life
Chicken Dry Rub from Seeking Good Eats

Store your mason jar gift in a cool, dry location.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Mason Jar BBQ Spice Rub using your Cricut Maker. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

I am happy to share printables and SVG files. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

Don’t forget our many low-cost DIY Father’s Day Gift ideas using supplies from home. Pin to Pinterest.

Also save these free Cricut Tutorials throughout the entire year. Pin to Pinterest.

Plastic Easter Egg Lightning Bugs Craft

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May 23, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media Leave a Comment

Recycle and upcycled your supplies with this Plastic Easter Egg Lightning Bugs Craft. Using a flameless tea light, create a DIY firefly that really lights up. This Summer craft idea for kids is perfect for small hands and makes a cute handmade night light for their bedside.

Plastic Easter Egg Lightning Bugs Craft

Anyone else STILL picking up plastic Easter Eggs off the floor. If I do not get the kids March Easter basket put away within the first 24 hours, these little suckers end up all over the house.

This year, we twisted it up. We actually kept our plastic eggs. By kept I mean “not put away” (insert finger quotation marks) in the Easter boxes. One child sprinkled a few mismatched in the toddlers room. Another child tossed a few in the toy box. Someone one hid some behind the bathroom toilet. The sprinkling, the tossing, the hiding was not agreed upon by me. Once my little monsters managed to fill the house with broken Easter Eggs, I reached my breaking point… in May.

Plastic Easter Egg Crafts

We moved this year and there have been new excitements watching this house go through different seasons. Bulbs have sprung out of the ground, the creek has risen and lowered, but one very exciting event has been the lightning bugs that have emerged in the evenings.

My husband’s and my bedroom is on the third floor. We are high up into the trees with green leaves in the tree tops right outside our window. The other night falling asleep my husband asked if I “saw that?” Don’t you love when someone says “that” over did you “see those lighting bugs in the tree?” I looked out the window and sure enough, the lighting buts were dancing outside our window. So beautiful and magical. I wanted to wake the kids, but as an outnumbered mother of five, I knew better.

I had been researching Plastic Easter Egg Crafts and decided I had a solution for our family. Upcycled Easter Egg Fireflies.

Why Do a Lighting Bugs Light Up?

Before we began our project, we addressed a few questions about lightning bugs like why does a lightning bug light up?

Fireflies, sometimes called lightning bugs, are a unique insect. They light up and this is seen clearly in the evening sky. did you know, according to National Geographic, this was a mystery for 60 years. In 2015, scientist discovered that the light of a lightning bug is from a chemical reaction caused by an organic compound in their abdomen.

This compound is luciferin. When air transfers to the inside of a lightning bugs’ belly, it reactions with the lucierfin causing a chemical reaction that gives up a fiery glow. The firefly can control the amount of airflow to their abdomen creating a pulsating pattern or flicker of light.

You can extend your lesson on insects with our Bug Booklet Insect Journal.

Lightning Bugs Crafts Materials

Multiply these crafts as needed. The supplies below create two fireflies Easter Eggs.

Supplies:

Savings tip: Upcycle old plastic Eater Eggs or look for Easter Eggs on clearance at craft stores. Michael’s Craft Stores offers shipping, same day delivery or curbside pick-up.

How to Make a Firefly

It is very easy and safe for small hands to help you make a firefly Easter Egg. Careful with the hot glue gun as that should be parent lead and can burn your skin. This summer craft for kids idea will be something they can keep beside their bed.

Instructions:

First, gather your supplies. Plugin your hot glue gun to warm.

You will begin by opening your plastic egg. Each side will be slightly different. One more rounded, one with a more pronounced point.

Take your rounded Easter egg halves and use a permanent marker to make a mouth. We made a small smile on one and a half smile on the other.

After you create your smiles, cutting two of your pipe cleaners into thirds for a total of six pieces.

Twist three pipe cleaners thirds together and bend to shape the legs. Repeat for the second set of legs. Put aside.

Once your glue gun is warm, hot glue 2 wiggly eyes onto each rounded egg face. Let dry.

While your eyes are drying, cut your antennas. Take your last pipe cleaner and cut it in half. These will serve as your two sets of antenna.

Take one set and fold it in half to form a V Shape. Curl your ends slightly to shape. Repeat for the second set. Set aside.

Take your pointy Easter egg half and insert your tea lights into both eggs. Turn on your tea lights.

Add the antenna in the egg and then and tightly close the plastic eggs halves together.

Glue on your pipe cleaner legs and let dry.

Take a 2 inch piece of Duct tape and fold it in leaving 1/4 inch uncovered so you can stick it to the edge of your bug.

Use scissors and round your folded Duct tape into wings. Repeat for the second bug.

Finally, stick on your duct tape wings.

To watch your firefly glow, simply crack open your egg and turn on your LED tealight. But make sure to seal it back up tightly! You can turn it on and off as needed.

We placed ours by our kids nightstand. A cute little nightlight but have backup lights because they can burn quickly if you get a cheaper set.

We hope you enjoy making these as much as we did.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Lightning Bug & Firefly craft. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Take all those old Plastic Easter Eggs and Upcycle into Crafts. Pin to Pinterest.

Love Bugs? Take look at this Insect Journal and Booklet for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

DIY Cricut Father’s Day Photo Frame

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May 19, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Father's Day, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media 5 Comments

Looking for an easy and Frugal Father’s Day gift from home? This DIY Father’s Day Photo Frame is a cute gift idea from the kids. Download these five funny Father’s Day quotes and puns. Upload your FREE SVG Files for Cricut Design Space, print, and create a rock picture frame for a dad that is a rock or rock star!

Cricut Father’s Day Photo Frame

Whether your dad sports a leather vest and rocks the guitar,or is a pillar of strength that your family leans on, we have some of the ultimate Father’s Day Quotes and crafts for your super dad! Using a Cricut Maker, make dad an adorable rock frame that he can display at the office or by his bedside, reminding him of his importance. This DIY Father’s Day gift is simple and uses supplies around the house.

If you are using your vinyl cutter to create easy and frugal Father’s Day gifts ideas, make sure you download this Father’s Day SVG File for Cricut to make Homemade BBQ Seasoning Mason Jars.

Father’s Day Puns

We put together five Father’s Day puns about rocks for your rock star, the rock you lean on, your dad.

Dad Quotes:

Have a rock’n Father’s Day.

Dad, you’re our rock star! (the one we used)

Dad, you rock!

Dad, you’re the rock our family leans on!

My dad, my rock.

You can use any of these quotes about rocks & dad in your Father’s Day picture frames.

Father’s Day SVG Files

For your Rock Father’s Day Picture Frame, you will need a few materials including our free Father’s Day SVG file.

Father’s Day SVG File Download

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

Once you have your Father’s Day Rock Quotes downloaded, you can begin this process of uploading a SVG file to Cricut Design Space.

DIY Photo Frame Craft Supplies

To create this Cricut Rock’n Picture Frame for Dad this Father’s Day, have the following materials…

Materials Needed:

Rock’n SVG cut file (downloaded from Frugal Coupon Living’s Free Printables)
Wide Wooden 3.5” x 5” Photo frame (painted with chalky paint, we used Americana Decor Relic)
Cricut Maker (or Cricut Joy)
Standard grip mat
Cricut Premium Vinyl, Removable or Permanent in color of your choice (We used Light Gray Cricut Premium Vinyl in the Vibrant Value Pack.)
Cricut Deluxe Paper (we used Hostess with the Mostess Winter Sparkle collection)
Cricut Weeder Tool
Cricut Transfer Tape
Cricut Scraping Tool
Small rocks/pebbles
Hot glue gun with clear craft glue

For Circut tools, this Basic Tool Set will have what you need and more! You can also pick up your transfer tape, mat, vinyl and more at the Circut Store.

Cricut Father’s Day Craft Instructions

Follow these easy directions to make your homemade Father’s day frame.

Gather all your supplies together. You can do this in many steps, over a few days or tackle it all immediately.

Prepare the Photo Frame

Disassemble the picture frame. If needed, paint the frame with 1-2 coats of charcoal chalk paint. Set aside the photo frame dry.

Once the painted frame is dry, heat a hot glue gun with clear glue sticks.

Begin in the corner of the picture frame and apply a dab of hot glue. Quickly, place one small pebble into the glue. Repeat this process until you cover the entire surface of the frame with rocks until finished.

Put the frame aside.

How to Upload your SVG File to Cricut Design Space

Open Cricut Design Space.

Upload Father’s Day Rock’n Phrases SVG File into design space.

On the right column, click Ungroup.

Click and drag over each of the phrases separately. With the phrase highlighted, click on the “Weld” button”. Repeat for all phrases or erase the phrases you do not want to print to vinyl.

Adjust your rock phrase sizes to fit inside the photo frame accordingly (we used 3.5 x 5 but you can use a similar size frame).

Insert one square shape onto the Design Space canvas to create the photo frame backing. Size the square to match the size of the picture frame, in our case it was 3.5” wide x 5” high.

Finally, using the color sync tab. assign colors to the images for different material types: Premium Vinyl and Cardstock (Deluxe Paper).

How to Cut Vinyl on Cricut

Once your work is complete in design space you will begin the process of cutting your vinyl using your Cricut machine.

First, select “Make It” in Design Space.

For the vinyl phrase(s), set the material type to Premium Vinyl. Follow prompts for loading the mat into the Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy and cutting the Premium Vinyl.

When prompted, unload the mat from the cutting machine.

Remove the Premium Vinyl from the mat.

For the paper photo frame backing, set the material type to cardstock, medium weight. Follow prompts for loading the mat into the Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy and cutting the Deluxe Paper.

When prompted, unload the mat from the Cricut maker cutting machine.

Remove the Deluxe Paper from the mat.

How to Assemble the Rock Picture Frame

You have crafted your rock picture frame, cut your vinyl, and cut your card stock mat. Next you will begin to assemble your Father’s Day Rock Picture Frame.

How to Put Vinyl on Glass

Take the glass from your picture frame and lay it on flat surface.

First, make sure your glass is clean and wipe free any dust or streak from the surface. Let dry.

Cut around the vinyl cut phrase with a pair of scissors.

Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut phrase and discard excess vinyl.

Next, cut a section of the transfer tape slightly larger than the size of the phrase.

Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape on top of the cut phrase. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.

Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the phrase adhered to the transfer tape.

Position the phrase with the transfer tape on to the glass and press in place.

Press the vinyl phrase down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the glass surface.

Slowly and carefully remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl phrase on the glass.

Place the glass back into the pebble picture frame. Wipe away finger prints.

Place the blue cardstock paper mat into the frame against the glass. Reassemble the backing into the frame.

Wrap this father’s day gift for dad. Gift and let him display and enjoy!

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Father’s Day Cricut Picture Frame. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Don’t forget our many Easy and Frugal Father’s Day Gift ideas using supplies from home. This includes our Father’s Day BBQ Mason Jar Craft. Pin to Pinterest.

Also save these Free Cricut Craft Tutorials throughout the entire year. Pin to Pinterest.

DIY Mason Jar Canisters with Kitchen SVG Files

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May 19, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media Leave a Comment

Create Homemade Mason Jar Canisters using chalk paint, drawer knobs and directions on how to create Rae Dunn inspired font in Cricut Design Space. Go a step further with Kitchen SVG files and more weekend DIY projects for your home.

DIY Mason Jar Canisters with Kitchen SVG Files

We have the cutest DIY weekend project for your kitchen. A little bit functional, a little bit fun, and a lot of Rae Dunn inspired farmhouse decor. These homemade canisters are made from 16 oz mason jars, knobs, chalk paint, and your vinyl cutter machine.

Kitchen SVG Files

If you have a Cricut maker, it is possible to get crafty and creative in the kitchen. We put together the best Kitchen SVG Files in Creative Market.

For this particular mason jar craft project you will not need to purchase your font. We show you how to get free svg files or Rae Dunn Style fonts for your baking canisters by stretching and pulling your font into a fun height.

However, if you are taking your kitchen crafts a bit further, there are kitchen and baking SVG cut files you can upload to more creative projects for your home and tackle more home decor projects with Cricut Maker.

DIY Mason Jar Canisters

For this DIY project you will need a few supplies to make these mason jar canisters. WE share ow to make your own Rae Dunn inspired fonts using a free farmhouse font available in Creative Market.

Materials

Beyond your vinyl cutter and Cricut tools, you will need more materials to create your Kitchen canisters.

Cricut Maker (or Cricut Joy) with Fine Point Blade
Standard grip mat
Cricut Premium Vinyl, Removable or Permanent in color of your choice (We used Dark Forest Green in the Vibrant Value Pack.)
16 oz Mason Jar with Lids
Cricut Joy™ Adhesive-Backed Deluxe Paper, Natalie Malan In the Grove
Cricut Weeder Tool
Cricut Transfer Tape * (optional)
Americana Chalky Finish for Glass in Everlasting
Paintbrush
Decorative knobs with screws and suitable sized washers
Drill and drill bit
Hot glue gun with clear craft glue
Scissors

For Circut tools, this Basic Tool Set will have what you need and more! You can also pick up your transfer tape, mat, vinyl and more at the Circut Store.

*If you do want to use transfer tape for this project, *consider using Duck Brand Peel Clear Laminate as an alternative to Cricut transfer tape. Some people prefer this brand more.

Directions

Gather your materials and supplies listed above.

Wash your mason jars with soup and hot water and allow them to dry completely before continuing.

Chalk Paint Mason Jars

First, apply a thin coat of chalky finish paint to each of the mason jars leaving the neck of the jars unpainted.

Put the painted mason jar to the side to dry fully.

Repeat with additional chalk paint coverage as needed.

Kitchen SVG Files in Design Space

Open a blank canvas in Cricut Design Space.

Next, select the text icon from the toolbar.

Type the word FLOUR.

To get a Rae Dunn Font for Cricut, change the font to “Little White Lies”. (This is not a font you have to purchase!)

With your word highlighted, change your letter spacing to 0.7.

Stretch the lettering by clicking on the lock symbol above the size section and adjusting the height to 1.7” while keeping the width the same. This will give you that DIY Rae Dunn inspired font.

Next, click on the unlock symbol and adjust the word height to 2”.

With the word highlighted, click on the “Weld” button. This allows you to join shapes/letters to create a single customized image.

Repeat these steps with the the word SUGAR and OATS or any other kitchen canister pantry item.

Select “Make It” in Cricut Design Space.

For cutting the words in your Rae Dunn farmhouse font, set the material type to Premium Vinyl.

Follow the prompts for loading the mat into the Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy and cutting the Premium Vinyl.

When prompted, unload the mat from the cutting machine.

Remove the Premium Vinyl from the mat.

Mason Jar Lids Inserts

To prepare you mason jar lid inserts, first measure the size of your mason jar lid.

Insert a circle shape on to the open Design Space canvas and adjust the size to measure the lid size.

Create another smaller sized circle with a 0.25” diameter and place it directly on to the center of the other larger circle. With both circles highlighted, click on the “Slice” button. This will create a small cut out. You can now discard the smaller circle shape.

Duplicate the circle shapes to cut one for each mason jar lid.

Color sync the images if needed to match the materials color.

Select “Make It” in Cricut Design Space.

For cutting your mason jar lid toppers, set the material type to Cardstock with adhesive backing.

Follow the prompts for loading the mat into the Cricut Maker or Cricut Joy and cutting the toppers. When prompted, unload the mat from the cutting machine.

Remove the adhesive backing cardstock from the mat.

Mason Jar Kitchen Canisters

To assemble your kitchen mason jars, first cut around each font word with a pair of scissors.

Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images and discard.

Transfer one letter at a time by hand to the mason jar.

Alternatively, you could also cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the image.

Peel away the transfer tape backing but ensure the transfer tape is not overly sticky. Place the transfer tape on top of the cut font image.

Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape. Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape.

Position the phrase with the transfer tape on to the smooth side of a jar and press in place.

Press the vinyl phrase down with your fingers to help it to stick to the painted glass jar. Slowly and carefully remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the jar.

Repeat for the other mason jars.

Mason Jar Lid with Knob

First, in the center of the mason jar lid, drill one hole the same size at the screw size for the knob. Take extra care when handling sharp metal edges.

Peel off one of the cardstock circles from the backing and place over top of the mason jar lid.

If your mason jar lid is in two parts, glue them together using a hot glue gun with clear glue sticks.

Screw the decorative knob onto the mason jar lid.

Repeat with the remaining lids.

To finish, fill the containers with oats, sugar and flour.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final DIY Mason Jar Canisters craft. Leave a comment and/or add a photo of your mason jar craft here on Pinterest!

Turn your leftover mason jars into a craft for dad perfect for his birthday or Father’s Day. We give you free SVG files to perfect this gift. Make your own BBQ Seasoning with these free Cricut SVG files. Pin to Pinterest.

Also look at these free Cricut Tutorials with free cut files. Pin to Pinterest.

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